Major leagues: July 2008 Archives

The Revolution signed and activated former New York Mets reliever Juan Padilla Saturday.

His story is not unique for a player in the independent Atlantic League. Padilla appeared headed for a long career in the majors.

Still in his 20s, the right-hander burst on the scene -- posting a 1.49 ERA in 24 appearances for the Mets during 2005. The only thing keeping from becoming a star may have been the way he was used: He was a middle reliever.

He hadn't developed into a closer yet, he was 28, but he had finished four games and saved one game. He prepared to pitch for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic in the winter of 2006. Then -- nothing. He did not appear in the majors since a stellar 2005.

What happened?

The Revolution finally ended a slosh-fest four hours and 34 minutes after first pitch. It ended in the slop and mud around home plate as the Revs Kennard Jones scored from first on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt.

Jones slid head-first into the mud to provide York with the final run it needed to secure an 11-10 victory against the Bridgeport Bluefish.

The key to the win may have been the perfect sacrifice bunt by Keoni DeRenne on the pivotal play. He killed the bunt, and the ball stuck in the mud in front of home plate.

The game was a reminder that DeRenne has recovered from a trying first half. Struggling to keep his average above .200 earlier this season, DeRenne has become one of the more reliable hitters in the lineup during the second half. He's hit .406 (13-for-32) during the last seven games.

DeRenne noted that recent acquisition Shea Hillenbrand has been a big help because the former major leaguer has been able to offer hitting advice. And it helps that DeRenne was able to pick the brain of fellow Hawaii native and former high school opponent Shane Victorino during the All-Star break.

DeRenne traveled to Philadelphia to visit with Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino. And Victorino noticed that DeRenne seemed to be drifting too far forward at the plate --a problem that Hillenbrand also noticed. Known more as a speedster and track star during their high school days, Victorino has survived several organizations and Rule 5 Drafts to become the Phillies starting center fielder.

Altering his approach, DeRenne now looks like the offensive leader the Revs expected him to be this season.

Of note: Bridgeport's Jesse Hoorelbeke became just the fourth player to hit a homer over the 15-foot fence in dead center field 405 feet from home plate, and the first this season.

The Atlantic League Board of Directors answered a number of questions after meeting at the All-Star Game in Somerset last week.

But the biggest news could be the one question the board didn't answer. The league still has no official plan for spring training. For 11 years the league has boasted about being the only independent league to travel to Florida for spring training -- just like major league organizations.

But the Atlantic League's contract with the Detroit Tigers spring training facility in Lakeland, Fla., expired this spring. And the league has not signed a new contract with another major league organization.

The league has delayed making an official decision on the matter, in order to pursue looking at other options.

It's an official no-decision.

Had the league been sold on going south, however, this no-decision wouldn't be happening. The league needs time to plan. It needed to find a facility. It needed to get a number of teams on board, or else it doesn't make sense to pay for a facility. So the no-news in essence is another move closer to the Revolution staying home at Sovereign Bank Stadium next spring and playing exhibitions in front of a hometown crowd.

Opening Day Partners Chairman Peter Kirk has openly discussed the positives of holding spring training at the league's home stadiums. Stay-training would bring more fans into the ballpark in the spring. And while some York fans traveled to Tigertown to watch the Revs play exhibition games, few fans could afford the time or money needed to make a special trip for minor league spring training. The "crowds" were limited to a handful of diehards and members of ownership groups.

The league had a good thing going when it had every team showing up in Florida for spring training. But fewer teams had been making the trek. This year Newark and Somerset stayed at home. And does it really make sense for six teams to fly down south to a place where they won't see anything resembling a crowd?

The bad news coming out of the All-Star Game proved to be the future of the game.

York fans had a glimpse of the Atlantic League All-Star Game last season, when Lancaster hosted the game.

Just doing some quick math, York looked to be in the mix to host the game - and soon. Lancaster hosted the biggest show in the league during the franchise's third season.

But it's not that simple.

The league has a rotation.

That's why Newark will host the game in 2009. That's why Long Island will host in 2010. And that's why York will host in 2011, according to league officials.

It's a little longer wait than expected. But fans should look on the bright side, they probably won't have to buy those airline tickets to Florida anymore.

The York Revolution expect to activate former major league third baseman Shea Hillenbrand after he passes his physical. Revolution Director of Baseball Operations Adam Gladstone confirmed Hillenbrand arrived in York late Monday night and will join the Revs active roster as soon as the team completes his paperwork.

Hillenbrand played in the big leagues for seven seasons, batting .284 with 108 homers and 490 RBIs. He played in the major leagues last season, suiting up for the Dodgers as recently as Sept. 20.

He has not played for a team this season but has expressed an interest to play in the Atlantic League. His arrival completes negotiations that first started weeks ago when Gladstone and then York manager Chris Hoiles called Hillenbrand to ask about his desire to play independent baseball.